Red-Handed Jill

Disclaimer: in terms of messiness, this is as bad as it gets - most of the time it's better organized, but ya gets to see it, warts and all! The red coat to the left is a British fusilier's coat, circa the 1740's. I'm working on four of these - two red and two blue gunner's coats, same era. This is my network - you can't see it, but there are two PC's, one laptop and a router on and under that desk. Also my lucky tiki's (to make sure the network stays up.)

Porcellain white skin was for the upper classes. I don't think that look was possible if your job kept you out at sea. The term "suspension of disbelief" comes to mind... These girls are all waifs! Where are the muscles from sweating lines or swinging cutlasses?

^ The Caribbean, of course! (I have actually swum there - clear and warm.) < The water in Monterey is occasionally clear and even colder than Catalina. V Crawl, backstroke or dogpaddle?

My grandmother was an alcoholic (surprise surprise...) I'm just amazed that neither my brother or I turned out to be so. All the same, my upbringing has been fodder for lots of interesting stories.

I don't have pics of the office where the magic happens, but here is our office buddy...

^ I never make any. I tend to make improvements as I need to, so waiting until January 1st doesn't work for me. < Back in the Dark Ages, I used to work in a health club. For the first three weeks of each year it was standing room only. So it looks like the average New Year's fitness resolution lasts about three weeks. V Doubloons or jewels?

Aye - may 2007 be the best of years!

^Yes I did < Getting ready to go to a birthday party. V What is your favorite comfort food? How are you holding up, Lady Snow?

Ah... rum and coke - like mother's milk to me. In this case, almost literally. Not sure if I've shared this amusing little story, but when my brother and I were kids (as in as young as five years old) we used to go over our grandmother's house occasionally so she could babysit us. We were typically active kids and weren't into sitting around and watching Lawrence Welk, much to my grandmother's chagrin. So she used to open a can of Coke for each of us, pour out much of the soda and replace it with rum. We would drink this elixur, get downright placid and sit quietly, watching whatever it was my grandmother wanted to watch (i.e. Lawrence Welk.) Now my brother and I weren't allowed soda (other than the very occasional root beer) so I had no idea what Coke without rum tasted like until I was about fifteen years old. The first time someone handed me a can and I had a sip, I spat it right out, yelling, "what the hell IS this stuff?! THIS isn't Coke!" To this day, Coke without rum just tastes wrong.

I LOVE Cruzan's Black Strap rum! It seems to me the essence of rum. I'm also a big fan of demerara rums - Lemon Hart 80 proof and El Dorado in particular.

That would be 2012. It falls on Friday in 2007 and Sunday in 2008 (Leap Year.)

I had a really good Christmas. I got two swords: a practice one and a Paul Chen Mortuary hilt sword. Also some glassware and bottles from the Jamestown Glassworks and a 1890's small Chinese apocathary case that I had been drooling over. Jack and I also got a Margarator - we tried it out last night and made Strawberry Daquiris.

I'll make sure it's the heavy one Patt... If you're playing with your buddies, then that's the best time to learn and practice and just have fun. As a paid musician, I have to know what the heck I'm doing. I'm not anywhere near where I want to be, though - there's a local studio musician who plays several instruments really well. When he plays the bodhran I'm mesmerized - in another ten years, with LOTS of practice I may be that good.

Yep - I've heard some folks who haven't even observed a trained player and have picked up some questionable habits - you can tell them from a mile away (and wish you couldn't.) Biggest issue I've heard is them sounding flat flat flat. They have a bodhran and they are hitting it with a tipper, but they aren't actually playing the damn thing. Starting to learn how to play one is relatively easy (although not for all) - learning how to play one well is a lot more difficult. But once you get it and can play in public without embarrassing yourself, it's a blast.

I play the bodhran; I've found that it lends itself to traditional tunes really well. As far as ease of play, it's easy enough to pick up more complex beats once you learn the technique properly. It's being able to play it consistently through an entire song that's the challenge. Also, I recommend working with weights - preferably low weights with lots of reps to gain stamina. The most common thing I've seen with beginners - particularly men - is that they start to learn the technique but even after several months are exhausted after just one song or sometimes can't even finish one. I deliberately went with a heavy tipper early and built up stamina the hard way - but, I can play for hours, even with a heavy tipper.

I have to agree with Patrick and Kass as co-pirates of the year. Patrick seems to be one of those rare folks who can bridge both the authentic and entertainer pirate personas and elicits respect from both groups - deservedly so. And Kass has been wonderful about educating those of us who want to at least approach something like authenticity.

I haven't the words to adequately express, but know that you and yours are in my thoughts and prayers.

because it's still RUM.

Yah...Right...... I can't remember who took the photo when Carol was adjusting some of the "stuff" jeeeeeez... scarry Dang... No way I could ever pass as a transvestite...... Hey... It was for a good cause...... ( that's my story, and I'm sticking to it...... ) I believe that was Lady Jaxx. She says that she has a plethora of photos from the "pirate queen" event, but I haven't seen them. I have a group picture of all of you but it will remain unposted - unless someone pays me enough money! MWAAHAAHAAHAA (kidding...)

Patt - just to set your mind at ease, I don't have any pics to post of the event and the others are lost.

a tragedy of epic

Oh yeah - it was! And then some! A few of the lads in Tales of the Seven Seas took part in a "pirate queen" auction for a charitable cause (namely to contribute to a portable lift for Ace and his wife Lisa.) Here is the description of the event by Claire, our pirate mum (founder of TO7S): First out was "Miss Ginger" (Shelly) who was staggering all over and fell face first in the dirt when I said she was so drunk that she would do anything! The wench that bought her asked if the bottle of rum she was carrying was included and I answered yes. The guys had put a pretty healthy dent in it backstage (Dutch Courage, ya know?) Then came "Miss Patricia" (Patt) sporting gold sequins and a veil. She did a great deal of blushing when her veil fell off and revealed her mustache! Then came "Hung Lo" the Jewel of the East (Gary) who was dressed in Sasha's wench wear with a waist cincher. She came out with a shuffling Geisha step, batting her eyes and demurely giggling behind her hand and waving her hanky. She put the crowd on the floor when she shouted out "love you long time!!!" (Gotta give Gary a tremendous pat on the back for this one, diving in with both feet on his very first event!! Well done mate!!!) Next up was "Miss Sally" (Rich) wearing Erin's wench wear and a turban. He earned the highest bid of any of the pirate queens at $43 ($40 for the bid and Iron Jack paid an additional $3 for the privaledge of rubbing her lushly carpeted belly!) Then there was "Miss Fatima" (Greg) this exotic beauty was dressed in revealing black belly dance attire, covered in sequins and jingling coins she came out strutting her stuff and shaking her money maker! Looking lovely as she raised her arms over her head- Let's just say that a razor just isn't necessary when you're a natural beauty! Next came "Miss Petra" (Redd) the tallest wench of lot, who showed them a lot of leg and batted her eyes over her pink feather fan! Petra's greatest moment came later during the pirate swag auction however, when she was working as Vanna White displaying items and balances a pair of tankards on her boobs! (very impressive Pete!!) Wait until you see those photos! Finally came "Queen Comonnawannalei-u" (Bob) wearing a rainbow colored grass skirt, a lei and a coconut bra that covered her rouged nipples, which she flashed at the audience, who were delighted! Her grand finale came when she seductively peeled a bananna, rubbed it on her rouged nipple and then ate it sloooowly!

Aye - I have a flogger for you too!

I can attest that Patt looks quite fetching in a gold lamé bikini and veil. (Patt - the "Pirate Queen" event will haunt you forever... but you were a mighty good sport!)

I'm going to preface this by saying that our group was asked to entertain at this gallery and Hollywood-type garb was the thing for this event. I'm the one on the left with the flogger and cat-o'-nine-tails.